Fear
The metaphor "Fear flushed through her in an instant, her skin bristling with it" is used to describe the intense fear Pip feels after she escapes Stephen's attempt to force himself on her. The metaphor suggests that fear has taken over her body, like a wave, and has made her skin stand on end. This is a vivid metaphor that captures the physical sensation of fear that Pip experiences in a moment of intense danger. It also conveys the abruptness of her emotional state shift, from feeling safe and in control of the situation to feeling overwhelmed and threatened.
The Lights
The lights have a "buzzy orange-yellow color" and "illuminate the area with an unsettling industrial glow." This implies that the lights are not only a source of light but also of fear and uncertainty. This metaphor implies that, while light can be comforting, it can also be a warning sign of danger lurking in the shadows. It conveys a sense of foreboding and tension because the protagonist is unsure of what will happen next. The metaphor can also be interpreted as a representation of the protagonist's uneasiness, as she is unsure what she will discover when she digs deeper.
A Puppy
The simile “following Sal around like a puppy” compares Naomi's crush on Sal to a puppy following its owner around. This comparison emphasizes Naomi's devotion and adoration for Sal, as well as his obliviousness to her feelings. This simile implies that she was always attached to him and eagerly followed him wherever he went. This simile also shows how much she adores him, as puppies are known for their unconditional love and loyalty.
An illiterate
The simile "but he texted like an illiterate" compares Sal's text message writing style to that of an illiterate person. It implies that Sal was usually in a hurry when writing his texts and didn't care about punctuation or proper capitalization. This implies that he was usually careless with his writing, but in this critical text message, he used three full stops and an apostrophe. This comparison is used to emphasize how strange this was and to imply that the message was written by someone else, as they were more likely to remember to include punctuation.
The red sweets
The simile "the red sweets sticking to her chin like blood trails" compares the sticky red sweets to the color and texture of blood. It's used to build suspense and horror as Ant tells a story about a zombie out for vengeance. This simile is an effective way to pique the reader's interest and instill fear. It suggests that something sinister is about to happen, which is consistent with the story's overall theme of death and vengeance. It also emphasizes the contrast between the birthday girl's innocence and the zombie's violence, emphasizing the story's dark and terrifying elements.
A painting
In this passage, the simile is "a girl who looked more like a painting than a real person." This simile is used to describe Becca's sister, Andie, and implies that she was so beautiful and perfect that she looked more like a painting than a real person. It implies that Andie had a one-of-a-kind and extraordinary beauty that was nearly ethereal in its perfection. Andie was almost too good to be true, and her beauty was otherworldly in comparison to the average person, according to the simile.
